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US 2017/0284842 A1Published application
Bidirectional flow switch
AssigneeGems Sensors, Inc.
InventorsBrian J. Glenn, Nathan Kulak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bidirectional flow switch includes a housing having a flow passage therethrough. A body is disposed movably in the flow passage and biased towards a first position at zero flow. A magnetic sensor is disposed proximate the housing. A magnet is disposed with respect to the body and the magnetic sensor so that when the body is at the first position, the magnetic sensor is at a first state and so that the magnetic sensor is at a second state when a flow rate through the flow passage is greater than a threshold flow rate that moves the body from the first position.
Claims16
A bidirectional flow switch, comprising:
- a housing that defines a first port, a second port, and a flow passage between the first port and the second port so that the flow passage defines a first flow direction from the first port to the second port and a second flow direction from the second port to the first port;
- two magnetic sensors, each proximate the housing in a respective position fixed with respect to the first flow direction and the second flow direction;
- a body disposed movably within the flow passage;
- an elastic member disposed between the housing and the body so that the elastic member biases the body to a first position when no fluid flows through the passage;
- a magnet attached to the body so that the magnet is movable with the body in the passage in the first flow direction and in the second flow direction, in response to flow of fluid in the passage in the first flow direction and flow of fluid in the passage in the second flow direction, respectively,
- wherein the magnet is disposed with respect to the body, and wherein the body and the two magnetic sensors are disposed with respect to the flow passage, so that
- at the first position of the body, the magnet and the magnetic sensors are disposed with respect to each other so that the magnetic sensors are in a first state,
- upon a predetermined rate of flow of fluid in the first flow direction, the body moves within the passage from the first position so that the magnet moves in the first flow direction, causing relative movement between the magnet and the magnetic sensors that causes the magnetic sensors to change state from the first state, and
- upon a predetermined rate of flow of fluid in the second flow direction, the body moves within the passage from the first position so that the magnet moves in the second flow direction, causing relative movement between the magnet and the magnetic sensors that causes the magnetic sensors to change state from the first state.
6 more elements
A bidirectional flow switch comprising:
- a housing defining a flow passage that is elongated in a first direction;
- two magnetic sensors, each in a respective fixed position with respect to the flow passage;
- a body disposed in the flow passage and that is movable with respect to the housing;
- a magnet in a fixed position with respect to the body so that a movement of the body causes a movement of the magnet, wherein the movement of the magnet has a directional component in the first direction;
- and
- an elastic member that biases the body towards a first position within a flow passage,
- wherein the body and the housing are configured so that
- a first threshold flow rate through the flow body in the first direction causes the magnet to move past a first displacement distance in the first direction, and
- a second threshold flow rate through the body in a second direction that is opposite the first direction causes the magnet to move past a second displacement distance in the second direction, and
- wherein the magnetic sensors are in a first state when the body is in the first position, and the magnetic sensors are in a second state that is different from the first state when the body is displaced past at least one of the first displacement distance in the first direction and the second displacement direction in the second direction.
7 more elements
A bidirectional flow switch comprising:
- a housing defining a generally cylindrical flow passage between a first port and a second port so that the flow passage defines a first flow direction from the first port to the second port and a second flow direction from the second port to the first port;
- a body that is movable with respect to the housing in the first flow direction and in the second flow direction, wherein the body comprises a solid portion across its interior so that fluid received by a respective end of the body from the first port or the second port flows about the solid portion and between an outer surface of the solid portion and an inner surface of the flow passage;
- a stepped down section within the cylindrical flow passage having a diameter smaller than the flow passage on both sides of the stepped down section;
- two magnetic sensors attached to the housing;
- a magnet attached to the body;
- and
- a pair of springs that bias the body towards a first position in which the magnet is aligned with the magnetic sensor and the stepped down section in a direction transverse with the first direction;
- wherein, when the body is in the first position, a distance is defined between the stepped down section and an exterior of the body so that a first threshold flow rate through the housing in the first direction causes the magnet to move past a first displacement distance in the first direction, and so that a second threshold flow rate through the housing in the second direction causes the magnet to move past a second displacement distance in the second direction, and wherein the magnetic sensors are in a first state when the body is in the first position, and the magnetic sensors are in a second state that is different from the first state when the body is displaced past at least one of the first displacement distance in the first direction and the second displacement direction in the second direction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.